Movies in McConomy

Meryl Streep is a perfect human, so there’s no question as to why Into the Woods is so superb. A rather dark interpretation of some of our more classic fairytales, this live action version of Steven Sondheim’s award winning musical features an all-star cast. Emily Blunt plays the wife of a baker who cannot bear a child, so she and her husband embark on a quest to reverse the curse that made her so. The curse was set on her by a witch, played by the aforementioned Streep. Fairy tale heroes and enemies return in this entirely new adventure, including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. Filled with luscious costumes and impressive CGI, the movie also boasts plenty of eye candy. Though some of the more controversial and graphic themes present in the musical were adapted to fit a wider audience, Into the Woods is still a refreshing take on old classics.

A spin-off of everyone’s favorite childhood DreamWorks film, Madagascar, Penguins of Madagascar follows the further adventures of four crazy penguins. In this spin-off, the penguins are taken hostage by an octopus named Dave. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? What ensues is a fast-paced spy thriller starring various members of the animal kingdom with funny names. Though the penguins are not very bright and get captured numerous times, they eventually make it home scott-free. One of the best parts of the movie is Benedict Cumberbatch’s voice role as Classified, a gray wolf who is part of a spy agency called “North Wind.” Radioactivity and mutation also play a role in this scattered, yet enjoyable, film for all ages.